Sprig: Your Green Style Guide

Eco-Friendly Pet Products

Looking to make your pet a little healthier and greener and not sure where to start? The experts from Sprig are here to offer advice on eco-friendly cat food, kitty litter, beds, toys, cleaning supplies and other accessories and on everything else having to do with living a life that is both stylish AND environmental. At Sprig, you'll find tips on green shopping, fashion, entertaining, decorating and more.

Sprig's editor Jeanie Pyun was joined online Thursday, August 21 at 1 p.m. ET by contributing editor Elizabeth McMullen to take your questions and suggestions about everything from kibbles to cosmetics.

Jeanie Pyun is founding editor of Sprig. She was the editor of Organic Style magazine back when "organic style" was considered an oxymoron, and co-editor of InStyle Home magazine, where celebrity and style unquestionably and always go together. She thinks that shopping and doing good can be uttered in the same sentence.

For all the latest on environmental science, policy and living, visit washingtonpost.com's Green Section.

A transcript follows.

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Jeanie Pyun: Hi, thanks so much for your questions on green pets! Elizabeth McMullen, who has written style, entertainment and international news for tons of magazines, is here with us today and is bringing her eco pet expertise.

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Elizabeth McMullen: Hi all, Elizabeth here. I write about green fashion, beauty and home products for Sprig. I adopted a kitten from a shelter 12 years ago and we've been going green in our daily lives day-by-day. Thanks for writing in!

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Pasadena, Calif.: Is there an organic version of Frontline? I have ticks in my yard and need to protect my dog. I wish there was something au natural.

Jeanie Pyun: Hey, Pasadena. You're so smart to want to go organic. Tick and flea repellent products are really toxic as you probably know. Also, people use them in combination -- a collar with a shampoo, etc. -- and don't realize that the chemical buildup can lead to diarrhea and worse. A number of deaths every year are due to this. For ticks, you can try to make a homemade recipe that includes mostly vegetable oil and rose geranium oil -- 2 tablespoons to 10 drops. Another natural repellent we've heard about is pennyroyal -- but don't use that around someone who's pregnant. Hope that helps!

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White Bear Lake, Minn.: Two years ago our cat shelter holding 45 cats had a ringworm epidemic. We had to get rid of all our cat climbs and scratchers because they were made of carpet. Carpet also can hold flea eggs and is not easy to clean. What cat scratchers are good for replacement? What cleaning products are safe for animals? Thanks.

Elizabeth McMullen: Hi White Bear Lake. Kudos for helping our pet overpopulation. Adoption should be everyone's first choice in choosing a new pet! Try recycled cat scratchers from SmartyKat, which you can find at PetCo and mainstream pet stores. These are made from recycled cardboard and can additionally be recycled when they've reached their end life. For cleaning products, I recommend Zoomies certified organic stain remover and all-purpose cleaner. Mrs. Meyers also makes a great natural pet cleaning line...links coming up. Thanks!

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Woodstock, N.Y.: Can I put cat or dog poop in the composter?

Jeanie Pyun: Hi Woodstock, love your town. With dog poop, you can -- as long as you make sure (and I'm talking double and triple sure) the resultant compost isn't going on anything you plan to eat, i.e., a veggie garden. People like to separate the dog waste from other compost scraps. There are ways you can do this. There is a product called Dog Dooley which is a really easy and clean way to compost dog waste. Or you can make your own if you're a DIY type by using an old garbage bin, cutting off the bottom, sinking it into a hole in the ground so that it's level, adding rock or gravel for drainage, throwing in some septic starter and letting it decompose (for two years). Eliz, can you talk about the cat poop?

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Vegetable oil and rose geranium oil -- 2 tablespoons to 10 drops: Does this go on the fur or do they eat it? Also, is there anything that can be sprayed on plants in an area that has ticks?

Jeanie Pyun: Ooh, no don't feed it to them. Sorry for the confusion. Hmm, don't know about the plants -- let's bring our gardening editor on board and she can answer you!

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Washington, D.C.: I'd like to switch to organic cat food, but when I've tried introducing organic cat food (or really, any other kind of cat food) to my two cats, they don't eat it. I inevitably feel bad and switch them back to their preferred cat food. Any suggestions on how to get picky cats to eat organic?

Elizabeth McMullen: Hi, my cat was initially turned off by some organic cat food brands as well. When introducing any new food, please be sure to check with your pet's vet to discuss any dietary or health concerns, such as renal failure (kidney disease).
If the vet approves of your new food choice, begin by adding it bit by bit to your pet's existing food, to allow adequate time for adjustment.
I have to say, my cat took to Newman's Own organic cat food like a duck to water...this can be found at most Whole Foods or even mainstream grocery stores. Don't be afraid to try new brands -- just like you, your cat may simply prefer one food over another. Most specialty pet stores will offer you a sample, just ask. Good luck!

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Arlington, Va.: I have two Pomeranians 4 and 9 lbs. I'd like to get them "chew" treats that take some time to eat (e.g. rawhide knots, bones, etc.) However they're on a raw diet (frozen pre-made) and I'd like the treats to be the same quality. Any suggestions?

Jeanie Pyun: You might want to check out these raw dog food companies and see if they have chew treats you like: Evo, Know Better, Roberta Bady...K9 raw diets sells chew treats as well.

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Elizabeth McMullen: Some useful links...
http://www.mrsmeyers.com/
http://zoomiesnyc.com/
http://www.worldwise.com/scratch.html

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Arlington, Va.: Hi. I don't have a pet, but I live in a community with a ton of dogs in it. Most of the garbage cans are full of doggie doo bags with flies buzzing around. I'm glad the "doo" is "mostly" ending up in the cans, but its a lot of plastic bags, and the cans truly stink (they get changed once per day). Doesn't seem very green...

Also, my neighbor lets her cat roam (to my great annoyance). Any tips to make my fenced-in backyard less appealing as a litter box?

Jeanie Pyun: Hi, Arlington,
Sorry to hear about your poo-can problem! (It's no doubt a pretty popular one -- the average dog makes 250 pounds of poop a year and overall 10 million tons of waste annually.) While it's great to hear that people are making their drop-offs into the cans, it would probably be more eco friendly if they didn't use plastic, as that stuff NEVER decomposes, and basically you're just entombing the poo in landfills. If you're feeling particularly inspired, or these people are your friends, you can suggest they use Flush Poop, a flushable bag that is safe for the plumbing and biodegrades. This way the stuff is in their toilets and not nearby garbage cans. Other suggestions for others who may be interested: Oops I Pooped, Dog Poo Poo Bags, Biobags, Skooperbox....as for a natural, healthy cat repellent (you want them to stay healthy, right? ;-) I hear that peppermint oil and white pepper is repulsive to them. Ropel makes a premixed product for you....Good luck!

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New BG and Spot's Dry: Any opinions on the new Merrick Before Grain foods for cats, and the new Halo Spot's Stew dry for cats? I am wary of new stuff in general, though I like these brands. Thank you!

Elizabeth McMullen: Hi New BG and Spot's Dry:
I've tried Merrick's (limited) line of wet cat foods and my kitty loves Ocean Breeze and Surf & Turf. Merrick uses "human grade" ingredients in their foods, which is great because many commercial pet foods contain animal byproducts and ground-up parts; plus other nasty stuff like artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors.
When I began making greener food choices for myself, like buying organic meat, produce, and dairy, I really noticed a difference in taste, quality, and personal health. Wouldn't anyone want to extend the same benefits to your pet?

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Raw Food Diet: Is it really better to feed your dog raw/organic food? It's so much more expensive and do they really notice the difference?

Jeanie Pyun: Let's talk about organic first. I think the important thing is to stay away from most commercial pet foods, which, as you know since you're on to raw food, are basically the garbage stop on the human industrial agricultural machine. Stuff that the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture would never allow humans to eat -- slaughterhouse wastes, offal, moldy grains, and I believe with meat it's called the four d's: dying, diseased, disabled, dead -- are processed into commercial pet foods. I guess it's ironically less wasteful on the major food companies' end to re-use this stuff, but really! Also, if the food products contain meat, you have the usual issues that come with anyone eating meat: antibiotics and hormones. So the important thing is to avoid those companies and go organic, natural. Caster Pollux, By Nature, Merrick, Newman's, Karma Organic, etc. are considered good. As for raw, I know people who've done it, then gone off it, and the live enzymes in raw foods seem to be a nutritional plus, but then that gets balanced with the convenience factor. Often with raw/vegan diets you have to supplement the food with dry mixes that provide missing nutrients and then there's just the procurement of the raw food. I think it's not too crazy -- and guys, let me know if you think it is -- to say that the raw food question for dogs is like the raw food question for humans. I believe it's better for you, there are indeed a lot more health- and energy-boosting nutrients, but few people can eat raw or have access to raw food resources all the time. If you're wondering about the eco footprint, you might end up burning a lot of expensive gas and emitting carbon gases in search of your raw. So like anything else, it's a health/lifestyle/budget question that only you can decide.

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Scoop bags: Any non-plastic, but sturdy alternatives out there for scooping while dog walking? Thanks!

Jeanie Pyun: Have you tried Skooperbox? It's 100 percent recyclable, biodegradable when you're finally done with it, and very portable and durable.

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Ballston, Va.: Not sure about cats, but no dog has ever died of self-induced starvation because he/she wouldn't eat the food its owner put out. There are no documented cases. A dog will not die of starvation if food is provided! Your dog is working you! You are no longer alpha, but the beta. Also, remember raw diets can have serious health issues for the preparer.

Jeanie Pyun: Okay, I had to reply to this just to get this response to the raw question out there. "Your dog is working you!" Love it. Who isn't? Thanks for your comment! :-)

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Queens, N.Y.: I'm almost afraid to know, but how bad is kitty litter for the environment or my cat's health? What's a good alternative?

Elizabeth McMullen: Hi Queens, N.Y: Thanks for asking this very important question. We all know that cat litter can be very expensive. So we may be tempted to choose the cheapest thing available. I used to buy that cheap, scented clay litter. One day, I saw my cat come wheezing out of her box and I was horrified. Had I been contributing to her health problems? Clay litter has been linked to feline asthma, and moreover is strip-mined, which is definitely bad for the environment. Avoid any cat litters containing sodium bentonite, which expands when exposed to moisture and can accumulate in kitty's lungs. And because cats groom a lot, the dust can be directly ingested from their fur. Silica-based litter is no better -- it's been linked to feline respiratory disorders.

Try a natural litter like World's Best Cat Litter, which is made from corn and is 99 percent dust-free and biodegradable. I think it's amazing and controls odor very well. Another favorite is Feline Pine, which is made from recycled pine (love the re-use factor here). The odor control with this is tops as well, and with both products, you simply remove the solid waste (World's Best clumps really nicely) and replenish as needed.

Please don't flush cat waste down the toilet, however--the feces contains the Toxoplasmosis gondii (TG) parasite, which is not only dangerous to pregnant women and kids, but can make its way into our waterways and eventually affect marine life (sea otters, for one). For more information on cat litters, check out this article (Link coming up). Thanks!

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Elizabeth McMullen: Cat Litter info.

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Clifton, Va.: Sorry you don't want to take a chance with organic treatments that might work on ticks! Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme and other tick borne diseases that effect are dogs can be deadly and have detrimental effects that last the dogs life. Please...before you suggest something, know the facts and the pluses and minuses. Tick borne diseases can result in anemia and cost thousands of dollars in vet bills or the loss of the dog. Not worth it to be green. And don't even go there for heartworm prevention, ladies, which is much more toxic!

Jeanie Pyun: Clifton, you are absolutely right! (Snap!) No one wants anyone to take a chance on tick diseases. I heard "au natural" and went there and yes there are lots of store-available organic and natural tick repellents. Flea Free makes an organic tick and flea repellent and Rara Avis Tick Spritz are two that come to mind. Only Natural pet store has anti-flea products as well....

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White Bear Lake, Minnesota: I hate to think of 250lbs of doggy poop yearly x every dog in the nation, going into our sewer system via the toilets in the nation. Isn't this going to raise the cost of our water purification systems?

Jeanie Pyun: White Bear Lake, you raise an interesting question. Maybe the rest of the country will take a page from San Francisco, who started this project a few years ago with this waste management company that picks up the dog poo (from 120,000 dogs! more doggies than kids there!) and puts it into something called an anaerobic digester (!) which converts it into methane gas. You could heat your house with it. What a thought. But as for our water -- well, there's quite a few things to worry about there on top of waste, human or pets or otherwise. Municipalities that recycle waste water into drinking water are purifying human waste, which covers dog waste, anyway. But it's cat waste that is more of a problem, due to toxoplasmosis parasite which can seep into the groundwater. So all those hilarious videos of cats pooping on their own in toilets -- you might think they're eco, what with saving on litter, but there's always another twist!

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Trying to be green: I am starting on the green road and want my cat to come along with me, but I don't know where to start! Do you have any suggestions on which products I should buy organic first? I'm trying to make the switch slowly for cost reasons.

Elizabeth McMullen: Glad to hear you're starting along this path! I myself began a few years ago and yes, took my cat right along with me. As you point out, it can be quite an adjustment to your budget. But I found that these choices simply began to make more and more sense. There comes a point where you just stop and think: Why would I use chemical products like shampoo? Why would I eat highly processed food containing artificial ingredients? A back-to-basics mentality doesn't happen overnight, but trust me, it'll develop organically (no pun intended). And when you make these decisions for yourself, you'll naturally extend these to your pet. To start, I'd recommend discussing natural or organic pet food options with your vet. See my earlier post regarding introducing new foods into your pet's diet. Next, switch your cat's litter to one made of natural ingredients versus the clay or silica litters (see earlier post on this as well). Buying organic catnip, like that made by Castor & Pollux (also great for organic cat food and green shampoo) is another small thing you can do for kitty. You don't want to eat chemically-sprayed crops, and kitty doesn't, either!

Cut out the chemicals at home in a big way by switching to natural cleaning products, like those from Method (check out your local Target for the complete line); Mrs. Meyers, etc. Also See my link above for Zoomies certified organic cleaners -- these are great for cleaning up those hairballs. Chemical cleaning products have been linked to skin irritations and allergies, and can be lethal if ingested by your pet.

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washingtonpost.com: Green Dog Products

Jeanie Pyun: Hi, guys, if you want more info on green dog products and accessories, check this out. Here are some other eco friendly favorites.
www.westpawdesign.com good very cute cuddly toys and nice accessories
http://www.pawlux.com/
a good gathering of nice high end toys
http://simplyfido.com/ cute unique toys
http://www.forotherlivingthings.com/pages/5/sub_cat/145/
hemp collars and leashes
http://www.planetdog.com/ cute all around accessories
http://www.muttropolis.com/category/dog/eco-friendly.cfm
another good gathering a bit more fluff than paw lux

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Anonymous: Catnip is OK right ?

Elizabeth McMullen: Hi, please see recent post regarding organic catnip -- it's really the way to go for your kitty's optimum health. Catnip is a crop just like anything else -- tomatoes, corn, apples -- and can be conventionally sprayed with toxic pesticides or fertilizers.

Note: We find that organic catnip (which is pure and does not contain fillers like straw, etc.) really packs a punch! So clear a path for kitty -- she'll really be zooming around...

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washingtonpost.com: More Info: Green Dog Food and Accessories

Jeanie Pyun: Hi guys, more info here. Just wanted to say that greening your dog isn't only accessories and even food alone, it's also avoiding lawn chemicals and pesticides if you can -- poor doggies have a very high body burden of chemical toxins. Also clean your furniture and carpets with green products -- all that stuff adds up. As Nell Newman once said (paraphrase) pets used to die of old age and now they die of tumors. So that's about food, yes, but also the fact that they are close to the floor, lick their paws, etc. Go green, go clean. :-)

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Collars and leads: For eco-friendly collars and leads, I like earthdog.com. They are made of hemp which does seem incredibly durable (so far). And I think they are pretty.

Jeanie Pyun: Just wanted to share with everyone else this cool recommendation...

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Ohio: Wow! I think we are lucky if we can get one drop of water pure enough to consume with all these revelations. I have to pass two city sewage plants on my way home from work, the foul odor from these is probably a form of gas that could be harnessed and put to work. Maybe that is something our cities should work on. I must admit, we do not have doggy doo pick up in our area, so the stuff my two Westies leave me goes into the trash can. No place else to put it.

Jeanie Pyun: You gotta do whatcha gotta do...

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Elizabeth McMullen: Thanks very much everyone -- I really enjoyed taking your questions and hope I provided some useful information. Green is definitely the way to go with kitty!

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Jeanie Pyun: Ooh, we've run over. Sorry about that. Tune in the coming weeks -- we've got green business and green travel. So nice of you to stop by! Have a great (green) day -- Jeanie

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